Getting a new kitten anytime soon? Kitten vaccinations start as early as 6 weeks old. Your new kitten will get shots at 3-4 week intervals. He or she will get a minimum of 3 vaccines. A fourth booster shot is available for cats to receive optimum protection. After the first series of shots are given, vaccinations are required to be given yearly.

Here is an explanation of what one vaccine is for your cat and what it protects your cat from:

“FVRCP” Vaccine

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (“FVR”):

Signs include coughing, sneezing, discharge from eyes and nose, high fever, dehydration, loss of appetite

Airborne

HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS!

Serious, but not often fatal. Can cause permanent damage to eyes and respiratory system

Caliciviruses:

Signs include loss of appetite, elevated temperature, lethargy, sneezing, oral ulcers and discharge from the eyes are seen.

Transmitted by direct contact (bowl, cage, brush, ect.)

HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS!

Recovery expected in 7-10 days. May cause rapid death in young kittens and older cats.

“P” – Parvovirus:

Signs include vomiting, fever, depression, diarrhea, and/or often contains large amounts of blood

Simply put, different infectious organisms attack the lining of your dog’s upper bronchia and the trachea. They will work together to damage and irritate these parts to such a degree that your dog will have a very bad cough.

A deep, coarse and hacking-type of cough will develop roughly 7 days after becoming infected. Their cough will persist if left untreated. Dogs who get infected generally do not have many other symptoms. Their appetite and usual energy level generally remains the same.

Kennel Cough is spread much like the common cold is. These infectious organisms are spread through the air and inhaled and spread from dog to dog. It’s called Kennel Cough because it’s usually seen in dogs who have been in a kennel or a shelter with other dogs who were infected.

In normal cases, Kennel Cough is not a life-threatening infection and is treatable.

Once these organisms are gotten rid of, your dog’s lining will begin to heal.

There are vaccines administered which prevent this infection. You should ensure that any boarding facility you bring your dog to has a policy which requires each dog to have had this vaccine prior to staying.

This preventative vaccine is called Canine Bordetella. We provide low-cost vaccines. Come on by!

An acute, infectious, and often fatal viral disease of most warm-blooded animals, especially wolves, cats, and dogs, that attacks the central nervous system and causes inflammation of the brain. It is transmitted by the bite of infected animals and is transmittable to humans.

The virus itself can take up to a month to fully grow. With that said, once your cat starts showing symptoms the virus progresses rapidly. Once symptoms appear and if not treated rapidly and immediately, it is very hard to turn around. Symptoms of this deadly virus include:

fevers

paralysis

seizures

can’t swallow

aggression

salivation (in excess, or more than usual)

constant mood changes

If your cat has been bitten or scratched due to a fight or you see any open wound and you suspect your cat received this from another animal outdoors, please bring him to our vet immediately to be checked over. This acts as a preventative measure because if your cat did receive the virus from an un-vaccinated animal, you would have caught it before it got very severe. Your cat’s chances would be better if he did in fact have the virus. (You should do this whether your cat has been vaccinated or not.)

In Florida, it is required that every cat must have a rabies vaccination. Not only is a rabies shot a preventative measure for your cat, it is also a safety measure for you and your family and friends (as well as any other animal your cat may come into contact with). As a note, it is also the law to have your cat, dog or ferret vaccinated for this disease. This vaccine is done on a yearly basis. By law, your pet does not need to wear a rabies vaccination tag, but you as the owner do need to have record of it being given.

Call us and make an appointment for your cat’s rabies vaccine. We are a low cost vaccination pet hospital.

An acute, infectious, and often fatal viral disease of most warm-blooded animals, especially wolves, cats, and dogs, that attacks the central nervous system and causes inflammation of the brain. It is transmitted by the bite of infected animals and is transmittable to humans.

The virus itself can take up to a month to fully grow. With that said, once your pet starts showing symptoms the virus progresses rapidly. Once symptoms appear and if not treated rapidly and immediately, it is very hard to turn around. Symptoms of this deadly virus include:

fevers

paralysis

seizures

can’t swallow

aggression

salivation (in excess, or more than usual)

constant mood changes

If your dog has been in a dog fight or you think he might have been bit or scratched by another animal outdoors, please bring him to our vet immediately to be checked over. This acts as a preventative measure because if your dog did receive the virus from an un-vaccinated animal, you would have caught it before it got very severe. Your dog’s chances would be better if he did in fact have the virus.

In Florida, it is required that every pet dog must have a rabies vaccination. Not only is a rabies shot a preventative measure for your dog, it is also a safety measure for you and your family and friends (as well as any other animal your dog may come into contact with). As a note, it is also the law to have your cat and ferret vaccinated for this disease. This vaccine is done on a yearly basis. By law, your pet does not need to wear a rabies vaccination tag, but you as the owner do need to have record of it being given.

Call us and make an appointment for your dog’s rabies vaccine. We are a low cost vaccination pet hospital.

Leptospirosis, also known as “Lepto,” is a deadly disease for dogs which can be spread to humans.

Recently, there was a Lepto outbreak in the state of Florida. It is contagious and we wanted to let you know what to do about it.

Firstly, you should know how it comes about. Lepto can be transmitted to your dog because it is a bacterial infectious disease. Your dog can get it from another dog, he or she can get it from swimming or playing in the water (most common in slow-moving or stagnant water), he can also get it by being exposed to urine of an animal that does have it.

Lepto can infect dogs, rodents, raccoons, cattle, pigs and horses so if you have a pet around these animals, please take note. As an example, if you have raccoons that you know come in your yard at night (they most likey urinate there too) and your dog gets exposed to that, he is at risk of this disease.

Pet owners can get Lepto from their pet if you have an open cut or ingest something that is infected. Symptoms for us would appear like we have the flu.

Vaccinations are available to safeguard your dog from this deadly disease. If left untreated, your dog can die of kidney or liver failure.

The Lepto vaccine must first be given in a booster series (two shots, three weeks apart) and then renewed with just one shot annually.